Saskatchewan premier Scott Moe was the first to sign a petition March 16 asking the federal government to make railway service essential in light of a possible labour disruption at Canadian Pacific Railway.
He launched the petition at the annual convention of the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities and asked all delegates and guests to sign it.
The petition also called on Ottawa to have back-to-work legislation ready to go if the 3,000 members of the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference walked out.
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Later Wednesday, CP announced it had issued a 72-hour lockout notice to its workers. That would be effective just after midnight March 20 unless the union and company can agree.
Before that, both Moe and SARM president Ray Orb said a strike would be harmful. Moe said it would be “catastrophic,” while Orb said this is the worst time ever for a strike.
“It will affect not only the livelihoods of farmers but the lives of their cattle,” he said, referring to the trains of corn coming from the United States to western feedlots and producers.
The federal labour minister, Seamus O’Regan Jr., issued a statement regarding the lockout notice.
“Our government respects and has faith in the collective bargaining process, because we know that the best deals are the ones reached by the parties at the bargaining tables,” he said.
“The minister of transport, Omar Alghabra, and I understand the impacts of a potential work stoppage and are monitoring the situation closely.
“The government strongly encourages both parties to consider making the compromises necessary to reach a deal that is fair for workers and the employer.”
Contact karen.briere@producer.com
